Largest Zoo in the World
Stop at the Best Zoo In America on Your Travels
The largest zoo in the world is found not only in the United States, but right in Omaha, Nebraska. The Henry Doorly zoo is not only the biggest tourist attraction in Nebraska, and if you love animals is worthy of being called a vacation destination for the whole family.
I have to admit, yes, I'm biased, I have lived in eastern Nebraska for over twenty years and we make a trip to the zoo at least once a year, and every trip we see something new, it never gets old. There is so much to see and do at the Omaha Zoo it would be impossible to see everything in one day. It is truly a weekend get away and vacation.
The indoor rainforest will take over an hour just to walk through and look at all the animals, and allow for at least an hour in the Aquarium. Kids will love walking through the underwater tunnel and watching sea turtles and sharks swim overhead.
In addition to the "normal" animal exhibits are the animal demonstrations (we never miss the sea lion show) and the interactive animal encounters in the Mutual of Omaha building.
Official Omaha Zoo Video
Created by the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo
Featuring the music from Mannheim Steamroller, and hosted by Dr. Lee Simmons, this commemorative DVD is a great way to relive your visit over and over again. Take a tour though the rainforest, desert, gorilla valley and learn what makes the Henry Doorly Zoo the #1 Zoo in Ameria.
It's not just the animals, which are great to watch, but spending the day or weekend at the Omaha zoo will be an educational experience for any family. School groups, home schooling families, and even Universities bring veterinary students to the Omaha zoo to learn about animal behavior, nutrition, and animal husbandry.
If you are thinking about visiting the Omaha Zoo you might want to purchase the Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo (Commemorative Zoo DVD)
to watch before your trip. Your zoo experience is further enhanced when you know the history and understand the mission and vision of this great zoo.
Kids Love the Zoo
Kids Love the Omaha Zoo - Make Your Zoo Visit Kid Friendly: keep your visit safe
It doesn't matter when you visit the Omaha zoo there will be lots of people, lots of kids, lots of excitement, and lots of ways to lose track of your child.
I took my kids to the zoo at least once a year, more when they were younger. They now bring their friends when they come home to visit. The photo of the kids climbing on the rhino is a favorite photo opp area and it's fun see watch how they grow over the years.
There are so many kid friendly exhibits where they can touch and get really close to the animals. The secret to taking your kids to the zoo is patient, food, drinks, and knowing how to keep track of their whereabouts.
Largest Zoo Aquarium - You doubt me,..check out these videos
The penguins have to be my favorite exhibit at the Omaha zoo. Watching them jump, swim and play is just fascinating. The fact that a penguin can be clumsy on land and then so fast and graceful in the water is fascinating.
in 2013 the Scott Aquarium in Omaha was remodeled and the jelly fish exhibit was just one of the
Omaha Zoo: More Than Just Animals
Omaha Zoo is Involved in Conservation and Research
The Center of Conservation and Research at the Henry Doorly Zoo is involved in conservation science with many different projects around the world. Some of the fields include molecular genetics, reproductive physiology, nutrition, plant microbiology and conservation medicine.
Veterinarians and researchers travel to world to help protect rare and endangered species in the wild from lemur research in Madagascar, to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Behavior sciences and animal husbandry concentrates on the psychological well-being of the animals which has a huge affect on their physiological health and life.
In collaboration with other zoos around the world the Conservation center provides scientific information on the most sensitive of our animal kingdoms and ecosystems including rare plants, and propagation methods to restore and rare plants in the disappearing rainforests. Methods have been developed at the Omaha zoo for long term storage and propagation of seeds through cryogenic techniques and spore banking.
Job shadowing positions , Internship, externships and research positions are available for students who wish to learn more about conservation, zoo careers, or animal science.
Garden of the Senses
Touch, feel, listen and smell
The Omaha Zoo has done a fabulous job with creating an exhibit especially for people who are physically challenged. The Garden of the Senses is filled with over 250 different species of aromatic herbs, flowers, perennial and trees to touch and smell.
Tactile learners can touch life size bronze statues of a gorilla or rhinoceros. There are fountains and running water to listen gurgle, touch, and play "leaf races" down the stream. My kids are adults now and that is still one of their favorite memories of the Garden is picking a leaf and watching it go down the stream.
Animal Conservation at the Omaha Zoo
Plants and insects are some of the fastest disappearing species on the planet. At the Omaha Zoo the orchid breeding program is one of the conservation programs in the Lied Jungle
So much of the indoor rainforest at the zoo is built around not only animal education, but plant and animal conservation and breeding. This largest indoor rain forest is home to hundreds of tropical and endangered plants and animals.
A big part of the mission at the Omaha Zoo is education and conservation. If they can inspire, educate and mentor future conservationists and wildlife educators future generations will respect nature, wildlife and animals and take care of their habitat in the future.
Answer this question
Have you ever been to the Omaha Zoo?
Largest Rainforest in the World - Ok, largest INDOOR rainforest
Bats and birds fly free in the Omaha jungle at the zoo. You never know what you will find around every corner of the indoor rainforest at the zoo.
Training Zoo Animals - Enrichment and training of zoo animals
It is very important to train zoo animals on a daily basis and enforce positive enrichment behaviors. When a lion or a tiger will come up willingly to the fence to be hand fed, that means the veterinarians job of giving medication will be easier also.
Zoo keepers can daily examine the eyes, feet, and skin of the animals in their care and watch for signs of illness when they can get up close and personal to them on a daily basis.
Below are a few of the ways the zoo keepers at the Omaha zoo train and enrich the lives of the animals at the zoo.
Where is the Henry Doorly Zoo - How do I get to the Omaha Zoo
If you are needing directions for the Omaha zoo you will find it in the map below. The Henry Doorly Zoo is located just one block off I-80 in Omaha Nebraska or a few miles from I-29 going north of Kansas City by about three hours.
The next time you take a family cross country vacation plan on stopping for the day, or take a weekend if you want to see the whole zoo. It truly is a vacation destination with fun for the whole family.
Worlds Largest Desert - Ok, Worlds largest Indoor Desert
Did you know that Omaha is also the home to the largest indoor desert? That's right, the zoo took the opposite approach to rainforest ecosystem and built a geometric dome and placed the largest indoor desert and nocturnal exhibit inside.
No matter what the season the desert is very comfortable, in the winter you visit to get warm and in the summer the dry atmosphere of the desert climate makes if feel almost cool.
Planting new cactus inside the Desert Dome at the Henry Doorly Zoo. Watch the free flight birds fly around, it's almost as though they are waiting for their new home to arrive.
Worlds largest nocturnal exhibit. My kids love going down into the under ground caves under the desert. The challenge is to see if you can see the beavers in their den and the numerous bats and animals in the caves.
8 Largest Zoos in the World - According to Touropia
In January of 2014 Touropia awarded the Omaha Henry Doorly zoo the recognition of being the largest zoo in the world. Below are links to each of the 8 largest zoos in the world and what makes each unique.
- 1, Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
Home to over 17,000 animals and 962 species the Omaha zoo sits on 130 acres. Listed as number when the number of animals and the physical size is combined. Also home of the largest indoor rainforst, desert, swamp, and the largest geodesic dome in the - 2. Berlin Zoological Garden
This oldest and largest zoo in Germany opened in 1844 and is home to 17,000 animals on an 84 acre park. - 3. Beijing Zoo
Best known for their collection of Giant Pandas which are unquestionably their biggest and most popular attraction. Founded during the Qing Dynasty the zoo sites on 219 acres and is home to 14,5000 animals including 950 species. - 4. Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States and sits on 265 acres. More than 4,000 animals live in the park in mainly naturalistic habitats. - 5, Toronto Zoo
The Toronto zoo is the largest zoo in Canada and is divided into the distinct geographic areas of the world including: Australia, Eurasia, Canadian Domain, Indo-Malay, Africa and the Americas. In these exhibits more 491 species are represented by 16 - 6. San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is probably the most famous zoological park in the world. But it is not the largest. My family and I visited the San Diego Zoo in 2011 and everyone of use thought the Omaha Zoo was better. They do have pandas and kolas which Omaha - 7. Moscow Zoo
The Moscow zoo is one of the oldest zoos in the world as well as being one of the largest. It opened in 1864 and houses over 6,000 animals on 53 acres. Visit the translated Rusiian to English website here - 8. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
This non profit zoo located in Columbus Ohio is home to more than 5,000 animals representing over 700 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles and aquatic species. It is currently under an expansion which will take the size from it's current 83
Books about Zoo Animals - Learn about Zoo Vets
I know a lot of zoo veterinarians (during my career as an animal nutritional specialist with Oxbow Animal Health) and I had the opportunity to visit behind the scenes at many zoos across the country.
Zoo veterinarians are responsible for not only keeping entire collections healthy and healing wounds and maladies caused by accidents and every day misshaps, but they are also responsible for breeding programs, vaccinations, deworming, and in many cases the nutritional programs of the zoo animals at the the zoo.
Omaha Zoo Memorabilia - Forgot a souvenir from the Omaha Zoo
I'll bet there is something on eBay which will remind you of your zoo visit, maybe even something vintage of an animal or favorite exhibit that no longer exists. Send a memory of your families favorite place to a son or daughter who lives far away.
What is your favorite zoo or zoo animal? Share with others what makes your zoo special and why you like to visit.